Drafted in the 7th round (224th overall) by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2018 (signed for $157,500).
View Draft Report
A 6-foot-2, 210-pound outfielder with Sacramento State, Outman is a strong player with plus raw power, but every other tool in the box is closer to average, including an average runner. He’s struggled to hit with much consistency in the Western Athletic Conference as just a .249 career hitter, but he’s also hit 11 home runs in back-to-back years. If he can figure out how to get to his power more frequently, he could be a dangerous bat, but he strikes out over 20 percent of the time.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
Track Record: Outman starred as a middle linebacker in high school, but he chose to pursue baseball and became a three-year stater at Sacramento State. The Dodgers drafted him in the seventh round in 2018 after he led the Western Athletic Conference in home runs as a junior and signed him for $157,500. Outman rebuilt his swing under the Dodgers' instruction and broke out offensively in 2022. He rose from Double-A to the majors and homered in his first MLB at-bat, against the Rockies, on July 31. He returned to Triple-A and hit for the cycle twice in four games, headlining a season in which he finished second among Dodgers prospects with 69 extra-base hits.
Scouting Report: Outman is a strong, physical athlete at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds. He previously struggled to make contact against pitches on the inner half, but after controlling his leg lift and lowering his hands in 2022, he became more athletic in his swing and began clearing his hips to eliminate the hole. Outman hits balls hard with his raw strength and now covers enough of the plate to reach average power and be the strong side of a platoon. He still has some length to his swing and holes against breaking balls that will prevent him from hitting for a high average. Outman is a powerful, plus runner who accelerates well to chase down balls in the outfield. He has the athleticism and timing to scale walls and rob home runs and projects to be an above-average defender at all three outfield positions. He rounds out his defense with a plus, accurate arm that produced six outfield assists last season.
The Future: Outman is frequently requested in trades by teams who believe he can be an everyday center fielder with his swing improvements. He fits best in a platoon and is ready to fill that role in MLB.
Track Record: Outman was a standout middle linebacker in high school, but he chose to pursue baseball and became a three-year starting outfielder at Sacramento State. He led the Western Athletic Conference with 11 home runs as a junior in 2018 and was drafted by the Dodgers in the seventh round. Outman immediately starred on defense and progressively improved as a hitter leading up to a breakout 2021. He posted a career-high .869 OPS while advancing to Double-A and finished the year with a star turn in the Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: Outman is a physical, athletic specimen more usually seen playing football. He is a plus runner at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds with quick initial burst and elite acceleration in center field. He ticks up to nearly plus-plus speed underway and runs down long flies to both gaps and at the wall. The Dodgers refined Outman’s lefthanded swing to get his upper and lower halves more in sync. He still has a hand hitch and has to cheat to get to velocity, but he sees pitches well and crushes fastballs when he connects.
The Future: Outman is a nearly-ready fourth outfielder with his defense and power at the plate. He’ll head to Triple-A in 2022.
Scouting Reports
BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium
Track Record: Outman starred as a middle linebacker in high school, but he chose to pursue baseball and became a three-year stater at Sacramento State. The Dodgers drafted him in the seventh round in 2018 after he led the Western Athletic Conference in home runs as a junior and signed him for $157,500. Outman rebuilt his swing under the Dodgers' instruction and broke out offensively in 2022. He rose from Double-A to the majors and homered in his first MLB at-bat, against the Rockies, on July 31. He returned to Triple-A and hit for the cycle twice in four games, headlining a season in which he finished second among Dodgers prospects with 69 extra-base hits.
Scouting Report: Outman is a strong, physical athlete at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds. He previously struggled to make contact against pitches on the inner half, but after controlling his leg lift and lowering his hands in 2022, he became more athletic in his swing and began clearing his hips to eliminate the hole. Outman hits balls hard with his raw strength and now covers enough of the plate to reach average power and be the strong side of a platoon. He still has some length to his swing and holes against breaking balls that will prevent him from hitting for a high average. Outman is a powerful, plus runner who accelerates well to chase down balls in the outfield. He has the athleticism and timing to scale walls and rob home runs and projects to be an above-average defender at all three outfield positions. He rounds out his defense with a plus, accurate arm that produced six outfield assists last season.
The Future: Outman is frequently requested in trades by teams who believe he can be an everyday center fielder with his swing improvements. He fits best in a platoon and is ready to fill that role in MLB.
Track Record: Outman starred as a middle linebacker in high school, but he chose to pursue baseball and became a three-year stater at Sacramento State. The Dodgers drafted him in the seventh round in 2018 after he led the Western Athletic Conference in home runs as a junior and signed him for $157,500. Outman rebuilt his swing under the Dodgers' instruction and broke out offensively in 2022. He rose from Double-A to the majors and homered in his first MLB at-bat, against the Rockies, on July 31. He returned to Triple-A and hit for the cycle twice in four games, headlining a season in which he finished second among Dodgers prospects with 69 extra-base hits.
Scouting Report: Outman is a strong, physical athlete at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds. He previously struggled to make contact against pitches on the inner half, but after controlling his leg lift and lowering his hands in 2022, he became more athletic in his swing and began clearing his hips to eliminate the hole. Outman hits balls hard with his raw strength and now covers enough of the plate to reach average power and be the strong side of a platoon. He still has some length to his swing and holes against breaking balls that will prevent him from hitting for a high average. Outman is a powerful, plus runner who accelerates well to chase down balls in the outfield. He has the athleticism and timing to scale walls and rob home runs and projects to be an above-average defender at all three outfield positions. He rounds out his defense with a plus, accurate arm that produced six outfield assists last season.
The Future: Outman is frequently requested in trades by teams who believe he can be an everyday center fielder with his swing improvements. He fits best in a platoon and is ready to fill that role in MLB.
Track Record: Outman was a standout middle linebacker in high school, but he chose to pursue baseball and became a three-year starting outfielder at Sacramento State. He led the Western Athletic Conference with 11 home runs as a junior in 2018 and was drafted by the Dodgers in the seventh round. Outman immediately starred on defense and progressively improved as a hitter leading up to a breakout 2021. He posted a career-high .869 OPS while advancing to Double-A and finished the year with a star turn in the Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: Outman is a physical, athletic specimen more usually seen playing football. He is a plus runner at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds with quick initial burst and elite acceleration in center field. He ticks up to nearly plus-plus speed underway and runs down long flies to both gaps and at the wall. The Dodgers refined Outman's lefthanded swing to get his upper and lower halves more in sync. He still has a hand hitch and has to cheat to get to velocity, but he sees pitches well and crushes fastballs when he connects.
The Future: Outman is a nearly-ready fourth outfielder with his defense and power at the plate. He'll head to Triple-A in 2022.
Track Record: Outman was a standout middle linebacker in high school, but he chose to pursue baseball and became a three-year starting outfielder at Sacramento State. He led the Western Athletic Conference with 11 home runs as a junior in 2018 and was drafted by the Dodgers in the seventh round. Outman immediately starred on defense and progressively improved as a hitter leading up to a breakout 2021. He posted a career-high .869 OPS while advancing to Double-A and finished the year with a star turn in the Arizona Fall League.
Scouting Report: Outman is a physical, athletic specimen more usually seen playing football. He is a plus runner at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds with quick initial burst and elite acceleration in center field. He ticks up to nearly plus-plus speed underway and runs down long flies to both gaps and at the wall. The Dodgers refined Outman’s lefthanded swing to get his upper and lower halves more in sync. He still has a hand hitch and has to cheat to get to velocity, but he sees pitches well and crushes fastballs when he connects.
The Future: Outman is a nearly-ready fourth outfielder with his defense and power at the plate. He’ll head to Triple-A in 2022.
Career Transactions
CF James Outman roster status changed by Los Angeles Dodgers.
Los Angeles Dodgers recalled CF James Outman from Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
Oklahoma City Baseball Club activated OF James Outman from the temporarily inactive list.
Oklahoma City Baseball Club placed OF James Outman on the temporarily inactive list.
Oklahoma City Baseball Club activated OF James Outman.
Los Angeles Dodgers optioned OF James Outman to Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
Los Angeles Dodgers recalled OF James Outman from Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
Oklahoma City Baseball Club activated OF James Outman.
Los Angeles Dodgers optioned OF James Outman to Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
Los Angeles Dodgers recalled OF James Outman from Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
Los Angeles Dodgers optioned OF James Outman to Oklahoma City Baseball Club.
Los Angeles Dodgers activated OF James Outman.
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